Xbox One Changes

Xbox One: How It's Evolved

After months of speculation, Microsoft has finally put us out of our misery. the company has at last announced that the Xbox One will be available globally on 22 November 2013. To celebrate the news, retailers have had their pre-order allocations increased to cope with the huge demand. But rewind four months, and we were confronted by a very different picture.

It’s fair to say that the reaction that greeted the Xbox One reveal back in May probably wasn’t quite what Microsoft was hoping for. Instead of being praised for its all-in-one functionality, quite a large proportion of the brand’s core fanbase were vocal in their disdain for the console’s features and policies.

But that was then. Thanks to careful monitoring of feedback along with a number of policy reversals and pre-order incentives, Microsoft has turned this situation around. Rather than stubbornly sticking to its guns, the company held its metaphorical hands up and made changes according to fan demands. As a result, the console that you’ll be able to pick up on 22 November will bear little resemblance to the one that was announced back in May.

Given the speed and fury with which the policy changes have come, you’d be forgiven for being confused. So, I'll try and guide you through the biggest changes made to the Xbox One, and explain why they’re just what was needed to put the Xbox brand back in the fight this Christmas.